5 - Smooching with Woo-Who?
Analise marched into the departure terminal. Despite having been there almost a hundred times before, she had no idea where to go; on every previous occasion she'd been following her father. Her confidence evaporated.
"Can I help you Miss?"
Analise turned on her heel and faced the voice. A young man dressed in an airport security uniform had addressed her, surely they couldn't arrest her for just being here?
"Miss?"
Sensibility returned, "Ummm. I think I've missed my flight."
"Ticket Miss", the young man politely prompted.
Analise fished the ticket out of her bag and handed it to him.
"Through there, Miss", he said, handing the ticket back and indicating a channel with a big 'Crew Only' sign hanging above it, "plenty of time."
"Have a good trip, Miss", he added, heading off to help a family of six who were quite clearly having difficulty.
Analise was panicking. The customs officer was asking to see her crew pass, and she knew she didn't have one.
"In your purse, Miss?"
There was no point searching her purse, but Analise was going through the motions anyway.
"Your other purse, Miss?"
She stared uncomprehendingly at the security guard.
"That one?", she said, pointing at Mel's purse in the bag.
Analise looked down, "Oh, that one!", she giggled - it was either that or cry.
She opened Mel's purse, the crew card was in the see-through window.
"Thanks, Miss. You may go."
As Analise walked away, under her breath she added, "and drink less next time".
Analise paused to regain her composure. 'Think like Mel', she thought, 'bold, confident, sassy, assured.' And she walked out into the departure lounge.
She had about thirty minutes to kill, and instinctively headed for the book shop - a nice period novel or historical biography would calm her nerves.
As she crossed the threshold, she realised that Mel would never be seen dead in a bookshop. She glanced around, what would Mel buy? Nothing. Stacked before her was the latest 'Sims and Swoon' trash romance - 'Smooching with Woo-Who?' She picked one up and headed for the till. Her eye caught a display of 'Lonely Sim' travel guides, 'Isla del Granita' was prominently displayed as 'the next big destination', she grabbed one as well.
What would Mel buy? She spied a jewellery shop and entered a wonderland she'd never previously experienced.
A world of rings (way too expensive), ear-rings (useless as her ears weren't pierced), bracelets (John had bought her one as a present after they'd done 'the deed' - it was probably still down the back of the sideboard - she was ambivalent towards them), necklaces (made the rings look cheap) and pendants. She browsed the pendants. She was drawn towards their simple designs on simple gold chains. One caught her attention - it depicted a snake eating its own tail encircling a vivid blue gem, it wasn't too expensive.
"Would you like that gift wrapped?"
"No thank you. I'll wear it".
The assistant, somewhat taken aback, nevertheless fastened it for her.
